GoRetail steering group member, Chanelle Purser, visited Wellington last week to look at its town centre resilience program.
She attended the city’s OurCBD meeting and talked with leaders from the civic and commercial community, including councillors, senior council officers, Chamber of Commerce representatives and retailers.
OurCBD has a similar role to Gore’s GoRetail initiative in that it brings together a diverse range of representative groups to drive collective strategy and support for businesses.
She also met David Byrne of Hurricane Clothing Group, who is one of the original business people behind the successful initiative in the capital.
The privately funded trip was part of a wider fact-finding mission for Purser’s retail business and her interest in community development and support.
“Despite its size, Wellington’s retail and hospitality scene has tremendous collegiality,” Purser said.
“We’ve been able to learn a lot about its program and there was also a lot of reciprocal interest in Gore’s Shop Local campaign, which has attracted local and international attention.”
While in Wellington, Purser met with the First Retail Group team which is working in partnership with Gore District Council, including project manager, Lorraine Nicholson.
“We’ve been delighted to have had Chanelle see Wellington’s program in action,” Nicholson said.
“Gore’s engagement and momentum has been been very encouraging and it’s something other provincial towns could take a lead from.”
Purser emphasised that she learnt a lot in Wellington that Gore could work on and ideas it could adopt.
“They have an ‘Eyes On’ program where retailers have joined together to unite against shoplifters and intimidation from customers. They use texting and phone calls to notify other retailers of customers that they are weary of,” she said.
“While we don’t have all the issues Wellington has to deal with we do have some on a smaller scale in our town.”
The Wellington group also has an events team.
“They have a 12-month calendar with all events being held in and around the city, as well as concerts, sports events and other smaller events, so they know and can promote things in their businesses accordingly,” she concluded. Source: Southland Times
